Story

Description

Kenny, Cartman, Stan and Timmy join the State Mountain Scouts of America. Their troop leader is Big Gay Al. At their first scout meeting, they meet another disabled boy named, "Jimmy" -- a new scout whose motivational standup comedy routine makes him an instant hit. "He's the coolest kid with disabilities in the world," Butters raves. Timmy, however, is not so enthusiastic.

The boys' parents aren't thrilled about leaving their kids with Big Gay Al. They complain to the State Mountain Scout's leadership, who boot him because they don't allow openly homosexual members. He's replaced at the next meeting by the macho-looking Mr. Grazier. "Now the first activity for this evening will be naked pictures," Grazier announces. The boys protest in downtown South Park to have Big Gay Al reinstated. Jimmy does his standup routine.

When Timmy refuses to help him with a joke by putting on a stupid-looking purple hat, the two move their argument to a dumpster-filled alley to slug it out. The bloody cripple fight draws a huge crowd, which reporters mistake for a show of support for gays in scouting. The case gets national exposure. Attorney Gloria Allred agrees to represent Big Gay Al.

The Colorado Supreme Court finds in his favor, orders his reinstatement and has the scout "elders" placed in stocks. But Al refuses to rejoin and asks that the scout leaders be released. "If I'm free to express myself, then the scouts have to be free to express themselves, too," he says.

Mr. Grazier is arrested by the FBI and discovered to be a notorious pedophile named "Mr. Slippyfist." Jimmy and Timmy call a truce. Or at least, Jimmy does. Timmy Photoshops his nemesis' head onto a picture of two naked men embracing, and gets him thrown out of the scouts.

What I Learned Today

"Just because somebody's gay doesn't mean they're going to molest children. Straight people do that too."

Locations

Behind The Scenes

Where Did The Idea Come From

Matt and Trey spotted a news story about a gay Boy Scout leader who got kicked out of the program. It came along none too soon, because they had only a week to prepare their next episode and no ideas.

Pop Culture References

Shout Outs

The spectacular fight scene is an homage to a brutal combat sequence from the 1988 science fiction film They Live, in which professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Keith David pummel each other in an alley. In Cripple Fight, Jimmy wants Timmy to put on a stupid hat. In They Live, Piper wants David to put on a pair of alien-detecting sunglasses.

In Jimmy's stand up routine, he does some pretty terrific impersonations, very much. He nails Jimmy Stewart from It's a Wonderful Life and John Travolta in Welcome Back, Kotter. Later, he does his impersonations of Cartman, Mr. Mackey, Chef, Mr. Garrison, and of course, Timmy. That last one doesn't go over so well with Timmy.

Pwn'd

Gloria Allred, a real-life celebrity lawyer who comes off sounding like a shrill egomaniac. There's also a Steven Spielberg cameo, in which he also comes off sounding like a shrill egomaniac.

Bonus Factoids

Pointless Observations

During their climactic fight, both Jimmy and Timmy seem able, briefly, to stand unassisted.

This is the first time we've seen Big Gay Al since his 1st season debut in "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride".

Priest Maxi speaks about how he himself "went through a homosexual phase" (and apparently had sex with a man named Peterson, among others). The boys also caught him committing sins with a female in "Do The Handicapped Go to Hell?".

In an attempt to get him killed, Timmy gives Jimmy an orange parka - Kenny's orange parka. As Jimmy walks away, he narrowly avoids being killed by: a falling safe, a car crash, a giant eagle, Jimbo and Ned's gunfire, a flamethrower, a stampede of cows, and a falling space shuttle. The giant eagle eventually succeeds, scooping up the real Kenny at the end of the episode.

As a young scout, Big Gay Al attended Camp White Swallow and got medals for his achievements in 'Rope Tying' and 'Skin Diving'.

Timmy's wheelchair is a Lil' Run-About model.

Even though they're clearly Jewish, Kyle's Dad and Mom can be seen sitting in the Catholic Church when Cartman yells, "Cripple fight!".